AFL fan sparks fiery debate after dressing in ‘blackface’ to cheer on her favourite team the Adelaide Crows
An Adelaide footy fan has triggered an angry debate about blackface after dressing up as her team’s mascot – a crow.
Cameras captured the Adelaide Crows fan wearing a costume during the team’s elimination final match against the Western Bulldogs at Adelaide Oval on Saturday night.
The woman was seen sitting with the club’s cheer squad behind the goals with her face painted black along with a hat resembling a crow’s eyes and beak.
Viewers of the broadcast weren’t able to see large black ‘wings’ covering her arms.
The jaw-dropping sight quickly caught attention online with Aussies divided over whether the costume was offensive or not.
‘I thought I was seeing things, but nope, there it is. There’s a dude in blackface at the footy. In 2026. You’d expect it in 1926 perhaps. Why? Just, why?’ one wrote online.
‘It is blackface though. Accidental but still blackface,’ another said.
‘It’s 2026, and there are people who still think this is okay. Hey (Adelaide Crows), okay with one of your members in blackface?’ another wrote.
A woman was accused of wearing ‘blackface’ after dressing as an Adelaide Crows mascot (above) for the game on Saturday night
The woman (above) was visible on TV without her full costume
‘Why are we showing the guy in blackface on the screen?’ another said.
Others argued the woman was just wearing a costume, without any racist intention behind it.
‘I know some people need to find reasons to be perpetually outraged, but this isn’t blackface,’ one wrote.
‘I must admit I did more than a double take last night but eventually saw it was an outfit – a pretty good one too!’ another said.
The woman has since spoken to The Advertiser and defended her costume.
‘I just thought it would be more realistic (to wear black paint), that’s why I’ve got black gloves as well,’ she said.
‘So I’m dressed like the mascot Claude the crow.
‘A lot of people have thought the costume was cool and have asked to get photos with me.’
Australians were divided over whether the costume (above) was offensive
Other Australians called for a more nuanced take of the costume.
They understood that the woman had wanted to dress like her favourite team’s mascot, but believed she could have achieved it without painting her face.
‘Old mate dressing as a crow clearly didn’t do it with the intention of being offensive,’ one said.
‘But that doesn’t take away the fact we are all old and aware enough to know that blackface in any form is unacceptable.’
Another said the woman painting her face was an unnecessary step.
‘I would say that if I had a big crow hat on, that I wouldn’t have to do blackface to convince everyone I was dressed as a crow. Maybe that’s me.’
Another said: ‘I’d imagine the bloke didn’t think how it would look without the wings on TV.’
